Building a Coot

I was out fishing in my Wood Duck kayak on a cool October morning. I hooked a good sized northern pike. That is when I realized that I am not cut out to fish from a kayak. I am just to old and fat and my ruptured disks in my back just can't bend and twist. Even the Wood Duck does not have enough room in the cockpit for me, my gear, and a thrashing pike full of teeth and hooks.

I love my Wood Duck kayak but I need a boat for fishing. So I have started to build a Guillemot Coot. Another one of Nick Schade's designs. It is small enough to pick up and carry to the water. Yet big enough to stand up and move around in. The seat is a foot high off the floor so that I can sit for long periods of time without my bad back acting up.

It is a very simple boat. Small, light, cheap, and easy to build. I can fish with two lines and have lots of room for food , drink, and worms.


I can't wait to get started.